Dead Clever
Encyclopedia
Dead Clever is a British black comedy
film, first screened on ITV
on New Year's Day
, 2007
. Written by Sally Wainwright
, it stars Suranne Jones
, Helen Baxendale
and Dean Lennox Kelly
. Although officially titled Dead Clever it was subtitled The Life and Crimes of Julie Bottomley. The music was written by BAFTA nominated TV & film music composer Sheridan Tongue.
in 1984. Julie's mother is a landlady and takes on a new live in barman Ian Bottomley (Kelly). Soon Julie is pregnant with Ian's baby and the story moves on 10 years where Julie is a successful businesswoman and she and Ian run an hotel and inn. Sarah, meanwhile, has graduated from University and is now a book editor in London
.
Julie discovers Ian is having an affair with her sister, literally walking in on them, and when Ian returns home drunk after the discovery Julie tells him that he hasn't had enough to drink. When he wakes the next morning Julie has disappeared, and something horroble has evidently happened: There is blood everywhere, a knife on the carpet and Ian's car crashed into a statue in the drive. Unable to account for Julie's whereabouts, he is found guilty of manslaughter
and sent to prison for 14 years.
Sarah has heard of Julie's disappearance and returns home for the trial, but as the memories fade she leaves the past behind, marries and has children. On holiday in Devon
she finds out that Julie is still alive and living under an assumed identity. Julie passes on a book that chronicles what has happened to her in the past ten years. The book is published and becomes a literary sensation, with Julie taking a new name. Sarah's assistant is killed in a hit and run soon after learning of Julie's true identity, but not before posting a copy of the book to Ian, who is soon to be released.
After he is released, Ian confronts Julie at a book reading in Oxford
, intent on killing her; he believes that double jeopardy
will keep him out of prison, as he has already been found guilty of killing his wife and cannot be tried twice for the same crime. When a member of the audience tells him that this is incorrect, he puts the guns down, only for Julie to pick them up. They then shoot each other dead.
Sarah returns to Yorkshire
, aware of the possibility that the police will eventually work out her part in the story. As the film ends, a police car drives past her garden and stops.
Black comedy
A black comedy, or dark comedy, is a comic work that employs black humor or gallows humor. The definition of black humor is problematic; it has been argued that it corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor; and that, as humor has been defined since Freud as a comedic act that anesthetizes...
film, first screened on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
on New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
, 2007
2007 in British television
This is a summary of the year 2007 in British television.-Events:*1 January - Celebrity Big Brother 5 launched on Channel 4, with celebrities such as Jermaine Jackson, Dirk Benedict and Leo Sayer....
. Written by Sally Wainwright
Sally Wainwright
Sally Wainwright is a British BAFTA nominated television writer and playwright. She won 2009 Writer of the Year Award given by the RTS in 2009 for Unforgiven.She was born in Halifax.Original television productions include:*Scott & Bailey...
, it stars Suranne Jones
Suranne Jones
Suranne Jones is an English actress. She first rose to prominence playing the role of Karen McDonald in ITV1's soap opera Coronation Street over a period of four years...
, Helen Baxendale
Helen Baxendale
Helen Victoria Baxendale is an English actress of stage and television, possibly best-known for her roles in Cold Feet, Friends and Cardiac Arrest.-Early life:...
and Dean Lennox Kelly
Dean Lennox Kelly
Dean Lennox Kelly is an English actor, He is the brother of actor Craig Kelly.Dean is best known for his role as Kev Ball in Channel 4’s Shameless.-Career:...
. Although officially titled Dead Clever it was subtitled The Life and Crimes of Julie Bottomley. The music was written by BAFTA nominated TV & film music composer Sheridan Tongue.
Synopsis
Julie (Jones) and Sarah (Baxendale) are friends at school in Sowerby BridgeSowerby Bridge
Sowerby Bridge is a market town that lies within the Upper Calder Valley in the district of Calderdale in the county of West Yorkshire, in northern England.-Geography:Sowerby Bridge is situated on the edge of Halifax, about three miles from its centre...
in 1984. Julie's mother is a landlady and takes on a new live in barman Ian Bottomley (Kelly). Soon Julie is pregnant with Ian's baby and the story moves on 10 years where Julie is a successful businesswoman and she and Ian run an hotel and inn. Sarah, meanwhile, has graduated from University and is now a book editor in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Julie discovers Ian is having an affair with her sister, literally walking in on them, and when Ian returns home drunk after the discovery Julie tells him that he hasn't had enough to drink. When he wakes the next morning Julie has disappeared, and something horroble has evidently happened: There is blood everywhere, a knife on the carpet and Ian's car crashed into a statue in the drive. Unable to account for Julie's whereabouts, he is found guilty of manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
and sent to prison for 14 years.
Sarah has heard of Julie's disappearance and returns home for the trial, but as the memories fade she leaves the past behind, marries and has children. On holiday in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
she finds out that Julie is still alive and living under an assumed identity. Julie passes on a book that chronicles what has happened to her in the past ten years. The book is published and becomes a literary sensation, with Julie taking a new name. Sarah's assistant is killed in a hit and run soon after learning of Julie's true identity, but not before posting a copy of the book to Ian, who is soon to be released.
After he is released, Ian confronts Julie at a book reading in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, intent on killing her; he believes that double jeopardy
Double jeopardy
Double jeopardy is a procedural defense that forbids a defendant from being tried again on the same, or similar charges following a legitimate acquittal or conviction...
will keep him out of prison, as he has already been found guilty of killing his wife and cannot be tried twice for the same crime. When a member of the audience tells him that this is incorrect, he puts the guns down, only for Julie to pick them up. They then shoot each other dead.
Sarah returns to Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, aware of the possibility that the police will eventually work out her part in the story. As the film ends, a police car drives past her garden and stops.